As soon as you take a step closer to the GOLUBAC FORTRESS in Serbia you feel the rich history of this fortress and how impressive it is to visit such a well-preserved phenomenon. Dating back to the 14th century, this magnificent fortress stands high atop a steep cliff overlooking the Danube River.
History
From the first written sources from 1337, the town of Golubac was in the possession of the Hungarians, and after about 50 years it fell under Turkish rule. By a vassal agreement between despot Stefan Lazarevic and Bayazit, the city belonged to the Serbian despot. Stefan rebuilt and expanded it, and there was a civilian settlement in front of the fortress itself. Considering that Stefan had no children, his heir Đurađ Branković was obliged to return her to the Hungarian king in exchange for his recognition as Stefan’s heir.
However, the commander of Golupac, Duke Jeremija, refused to hand over the fortress to the Hungarian king Zygmund, first trying to sell it to him, and finally selling it to the Ottomans.
The king was not reconciled to that decision and continued to attack her until his death. In the following period, the power of the Hungarians and the Ottomans alternated over the fortress. From the First Serbian Uprising, it became a Serbian city, and after its suppression, it returned to Ottoman hands and was under Serbian administration again from the Second Serbian Uprising.
Legends
There are many legends about this fortress, and the most popular one says…
There was a certain Ottoman emperor who married a princess from those parts but she was in love with someone else. The jealous husband imprisoned the wife in the highest tower known as Hat Tower where only pigeons kept her company. But even that was not enough for him, wanting her to repent, he tied her up on the water border between Serbia and Romania, but she was fed and watered by pigeons as a sign of gratitude. Legend has it that the spirit of the princess still returns to that same spot when pigeons land there.
Golubac Fortress Today
Today no wars are fought over the fortress and it has been fully restored. Only footsteps you now hear within the walls of the fortress are those of the tourists.
The town of Golubac has just 2,000 inhabitants, but the Danube here is at its widest point by as much as 6 km. When driving into Golubac, you would almost think you saw a sea. As a result, this town has a Mediterranean feel and look and is different from the other towns we visited in Serbia.
